Stapling plier



' R. VOGEL STAPLING PLIER Nov. 13, 1951 Fild Sept. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l R. VOGEL STAPLING PLIER Nov. 13, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhmeutor Filed Sept. 24. l

Gttorneg R. VOGEL STAPLING PLIER Nov. 13, 1951 4 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Sept. 24. 1949 Run-m5 VOGEL Gttorneg Nov. 13, 1951 R. VOGEL 2,574,988

STAPLING PLIER Filed Sept. 24. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ihucutor UDULF VEJEEL Gttorncg Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATE TENT OFFICE 2,574,988 STAPLING PLIER Application September 24, 1949,, Serial No. 117,540

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved stapling plier, particularly of the type in which a staple strip is inserted and individual staples are separated therefrom and driven into and clinched with respect to the material to be stapled. The stapling plier of the invention is especially intended for heavy duty or commercial use, where relatively heavy gauge staples are driven into relatively thick and tough material, and to this end it is an object of the invention to provide cooperatively related lever and cam means by which a greatly amplified mechanical force is obtained to drive the staples with relatively small manual effort. It is further proposed to provide a stapling plier in which a large part of the structural components may be formed of relatively light material such as sheetaluminum to the end that while the plier is of sturdy and substantial construction it is at the same time extremely light in weight. This feature combined with its ease of operation enables the plier to be used over long periods without fatigue, this being particularly important where the plier is used by girl production workers.

A further object is to provide a stapling plier which will accommodate staples having various leg lengths, that is, for instance, leg lengths ranging from A; to inch. A further object is to provide a staple strip receiving magazine which will accommodate a large number of staples, and

to this end there is provided an improved push shoe and rod assembly so located that the effective staple strip supportingpart of the staple magazine may extend almost the full length of the plier, thus enabling, a staple strip about twice the. length ordinarily employed to be accommodated within the magazine.

Another object is to provide a stapling plier having a relatively deep throat to receive material to be stapled, thecooperating parts being so arranged that the throat has a depth of approximately half the length of the stapling plier, thus enabling material to be tapled at a much greater distance from its edge, than is the case with the usual type of stapling plier.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 'is a side elevation of the stapling plier, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, the same being shown in its normal open position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View. t

Fig. 5 is a detail front view of the staple driver guideway plate for the staple driver.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig.7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken along the line 1 of Fig.4, the dot-anddash lines indicating a disengaged position of the handle forming portion of the push rod assembly.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentarybottom plan view, as seen along theline 9- -9o' f Fig. 7

t Fig 9-A is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward end of the staple strip supporting rail employed. 7

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse sectional view, talgen along the line |0lj 0 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 1 1 is avertical transverse sectional view, taken along the line l!l l of Fig. 7.

V Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the housing or body member of the plier.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the push rod assembly removed from the plier.

Fig. 14; is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 15 is aside elevation of the plier, showing one operating position with the material to be stapled gripped thereby preparatory to being stapled. V

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the plier operated to staple driving position. M

Fig. 1'7 is an exploded'perspective view showing the several parts of the plier in expanded relation.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the stapling plier according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention shown therein, comprises a housing or body member indicated generally as I I], see Fig. 17, preferably formed of sheet aluminum for lightness, and consisting of a longitudinally extending staple carrying magazine portion having a longitudinal base wall 1!, longitudinal side walls l2--l2 bent upwardly at right angles from the side edges of the base portion and inwardly turned flanges l3l3 at the upper edges of the side walls l2l2 spaced apart at their inner edges to provide a longitudinal slot for receiving a portion of the staple push shoe, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Guide walls M- M extend upwardly at right angles from the inner edges of the forward portions of the flanges l3, these walls being spaced apart in parallel relation to provide a guide space for certain operating parts of the plier, as will hereinafter. more fully appear.

The forward end l5 of the base wall II is rearwardly spaced from the forward ends of the side walls |2-l2 to provide a clearance space, for a purpose presently to be more fully described, and the forward ends of the side walls l2-I2 are provided with outwardly extending ears iii-I6 bent at right angles thereto and which are disposed in vertically aligned relation with substantially similar ears ll-ll extending outwardly at right angles from the forward ends of the guide walls l4--l4. At the upper edge of each of the ears |1l1 there is provided an upwardly extending lug l8, and at the lower edges of each of the ears |6-l B there is provided a downwardly extending lug I9, for interlocking engagement with the staple driver plate, presently to be more fully described. Rivet-receiving holes 20 are provided in the ears l6 and I! for receiving fastening rivets for the staple driver guideway plate.

The staple driver guideway plate 2!, shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, consists of a pair of vertical side portions 22-22 having an integral intermediate portion between them inwardly olfset with respect to the forward faces of the side portions 2222 to provide a vertical guide channel 23 for the staple driver. The upper edge 01 the gui e channel 23 is in line with t e upper edges of the side portion 22-22, while the lower edge 24 is up ardly spaced from their lower edges, so that it is in line with the under surfaces of the flan es I3-I3 to provide a sta le receiving space between the lower ends of the side portions and directly beneath the sta le driver. A notch 25 is provided centrall of the lo er edge 24 for receiving a portion of the push shoe as will presentlv more fully appear. At the u per ed e of t e staple driver guidewav plate 2| there is provided a rear ardly extending flange 26 having notc es 2121 inwardlv spaced from its ends and interlockin ly en a ed by the lugs l8-I8 of the ears l1--|1. and at the lower end of each of t e ears Hi t ere is provided a rear ardlv e tendin flan e 28 having a notch 29, these notches 29 being respecti ely n aged bv t e lu s I9-!9 of t e ears |6-I6.' Rivet-receivin ho es 30 are provided in the side portions 22-22 in re ister with the rivet-receiving holes 20 of the housing me ber l0 and a vertical slot 3 is provided centrally of the channel portion 23 for receiving the operating end of the dri er actuating cam lever, as will presently more fu l appear.

The stap e driver 32 is in the form of a rectangular plate of hardened steel or other suitable material, fitted for vertical sliding movement in the channel 23 of the staple driver guideway plate 2|, the thickness of the driver being slightly less than the depth of the channel so that it will have free sliding movement therein. A rectangular hole 33 is provided in the staple driver for receiving the operating nose of the cam lever, as will presently more fully appear. The height of the driver is such that in its upper inoperative position its upper edge is in line with the upper end of the staple driver guideway plate 2| and its lower edge is in line with the lower edge 24 of the channel 23, as shown clearly in Fig. '7. A rectangular cover or front plate 34 is engaged with the forward side of the staple driver guideway plate 2| to form a forward wall for the staple driving channel, and this plate is provided with a vertical slot 35 in register with the slot 3! for receiving the operating nose of the cam lever. The cover plate is provided with rivet holes 36 in register with the rivet holes 30 of the staple driver guideway plate and the rivet holes 20 of the housing member H], the two plates being secured to the ears l6 and I! of the housing member by rivets 31. Thus a rigid staple driving head is provided at the forward end of the shell or housing member to maintain the parallel spaced position of the guide walls l4l4, the interlocking engagement of the lugs l8 and [9 with the notches 2! and 29 insuring perfect alignment and accurate spacing of the parts through the simple operation of simply fitting the interlocking parts together.

The forward portions of the guide walls l4--|4 are of substantial height to provide enclosure portions for parts of the plier hereinafter to be more fully referred to, while the rearward portions are of relatively short height and are provided adjacent therearward edges with horizontally disposed notches 38 which form a positioning seat for one of the springs of the plier, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

A staple strip supporting rail 39 of U-shape cross section, preferably formed of sheet aluminum for lightness, is secured to the base I I of the housing member, preferably by spot welding, its side walls being spaced from the side walls |2-l2 and its upper edges being spaced beneath the flanges l3l3, so that an inverted U-shape passage is provided for the staple strip 40, this staple strip being of the well-known type comprising a succession of U-shape staples held together in strip form by suitable adhesive.

At the forward end of the rail there is provided a vertically disposed plate member 4|, having a rearwardly extending horizontal base 42 rigidly secured by a rivet 43 to the underside of the rail within the forward opening in the underside of the housing member provided by the set-back edge I5 of the base wall H. The plate member 4| is interlockingly connected to the side walls of the rail by means of lugs 4444 upon the forward ends of the side walls engaged in notches 4545 provided in the vertical edges of the plate member, as shown clearly in Fig. B-A. The forward surface of the plate member is in vertical line with the surface of the driver channel 23 and provides a continuation thereof for guiding 'the downward movement of the driver. The plate member corresponds in width to the width of the rail, so that clearance spaces are provided at each side of its base portion 42, as shown clearly in Fig. 9, these clearance spaces being slightly longer than the length of the staple legs so that in the event that a staple becomes displaced from its normal vertical position, either through jamming or other causes, it will readily clear the staple driving head.

Upon the underside of the base wall ll of the housing member adjacent its rearward edge there is secured, preferabl by spot welding, a bearing bracket 43 of inverted U-shape, provided in its side walls with inwardly flanged cylindrical bearings 41-41. An anvil arm, indicated generally as 48, see Fig. 17 extends longitudinally beneath the housing member and is pivotally mounted at its rearward end upon the bearing bracket 46 by means of a pivot stud 49 engaged in the bearing flanges 41 and extending through bearing holes 5ll50 in the side walls 5l-5l of the anvil arm. The anvil arm is preferably T termed or sheet steel is other suitable wear-- resisting metal, side walls '5"! being i'ormed upwardly side oi 'a'ba'se portion '52 which eatends rdrwa'rdly from the 'rearward v'pivotally supported end of the arm at a downward "angle to a point substantially midway or its length and then extends forwardly at an u ward angle. who forward portion ot the base wall is long-itudinally reinforced by an inwardly embossed stiifiening rib 53. At the forward end of the anvil arm the base wall is provided with an extended portion :54, which is bent upwardly and rearwardly into recesses 55 provided in the iiorward ends or the u per edges or the side walls to constitute an anvil portion, upper surface being provided with anvil impressions :56 of suitable depth and curvature to suit the par-- ticular type of staple employed. "The' anvi l, ortion is not rigidly secured in the recesses 55 a'nd there is su'flicient clearance between their surfaces so that -there is a sli'g'ht cushioning "action during the stapling operation.

The side walls 5| at their rearward portions are of substantial height and are disposed at the outer sides of the side walls "ii-=1 2 of the housing member in sliding engagement therewith, so that the move'men't :of the anvil arm is guided in accurately aligned relation with the housing member. Even if there. is some slight play in the pivotalmounting of the anvil arm its aligned relation with the housing member will be maintained. The forward portions of the side walls 5| are reduced in height by a downward offset .5 of the upper edges. which extends from the -.torward -anvil end to a point well rearwardly-of the middle of the 'arm so as to provide a V-r'ela tively deep throat opening for receiving material to be stapled, thus enabling such material to be stapled at a substantial distance from its edge. O

A helical compression spring 58 is interposed between the underside of the housing member and the anvil arm, its upper end being engaged about a downwardly projecting annular flange 59 pressed from the base wall ll of the housing member, and its lower end being engaged about a similar annular flange 6i! pressed from the base Wall 52 of the anvil arm. spring normally presse the anvil arm 'into'its open position as shown in Figs. 1 and '7, and also 'func tions to effect the operation of other parts of 1 the pliers cooperatively connected to the anvil arm, "as will presentl more fully appear. It is compressed when the plie'r is first operated to grip the material to be stapled by movement or the anvil arm toward the housing member, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

Also ivotally mounted upon "the bearing bracket 46 by means of the pivot Stud '49 the cam lever, indicated generally as ti, see 1'7. sheet steel or other suitable wear resisting inat'eri'al and consists of two half sections brought together along a centra1 vertical plane and s ot welded together at the contacting surfaces along this plane. Each of the half section's consists of a rearwardly disposed side plate portion 62 disposed ,at the outer side or the housing m'em ber 10 in contact with the outer sides 5i of the rearward "side 'wallfp'o'r'tions of the anvil arm 48,

see Fig. 1 1, being provided at its rearward end with a downwardly extending car 63 having a hole 64 pivotally engaged u on the pivot stild 439, the head at one end or the pivot stud engaging the outer surface of the ear #6 at one side and a riveted nut Ma upon the other end The cam lever is preferably formed of 1 engaging the outer surface of the *ear -46 at the other side. The side plate portions 62 *are normally disposed in parallel relation to the 'longitudinal staple carrying magazine of the housing member and al=e=somew-hat wider than the side walls [2, so that the :lower edges of the plate portions are slightly below the lower edge 'of the housing member and the upperedges extend substantially above the flanges 43 at the upper side of "the. staple carrying magazine.

At a point approximately near the center of the housing member each of the side plate portions 62 is provided with an upwardly and orweirdly inclined side wall portion 65 provided along its upper edge with an inwardly extending top wall portion =66 and provided at its forward end with an inwardly extending front wall portion 6! at a right angle to the top wall portion, a'cam arm portion 68 being bent forwardly at a right angle to the inner *edge of the front wall portion *6! and terminatingin a nose portion 69 engaged in the hole 33 o; the driver 32, as well as in the slots 3| and of the staple driver guideway plate 21 and front cover plate 34 in which the nose portion moves during actuation of the' driver, The inner-surfaces of the cam arm portions -68 of the two half sections are spot welded together, so as to form a relatively stiff double thickness solid arm structure, and the meeting inner edges of the top wall portions 66 are also welded together, so as 'to 'form an enclosure box structurein which is housed --a helical compression spring 10 seated at its lower end in the recesses 38 of the guide fwall pertions 14 of the housing member and engaged at its upper end with the top wall portions 66.

The dam arm portion 68 is @providedwith 'a camslot ESainclu-dingarearward relatively steep portion and a forward portion disposed at an obtuse angle to thesteep portion and adapted-as will hereinafter more fully appear, to affect the driver actuating movement of V the cam arm through cooperative engagement therein of a cam roller. It will be observed that in the normal position of the cam arm, asshown in Figs. '1 and 7 the spring ll) forces the "cam arm upwardly to its limit point with its nose portion 69 in engagement with the upper ends oi the slots 32 and 35. As thecam slot is preferably cut into the .cam arm portion 68 after the two half sections of the cam lever 61 .are welded together, itrnay be conveniently and economically varied as to design,

angle and length to suit d-iilerent requirements.

For instance, where a greater throat opening is required between the driver head and the anvil the bottom of the slot may be carried further down in the cam arm portion.

At a point about midway between the ends of the anvil arm and a short distance forwardly of the rearward end of the material receiving throat there .pivotally moiinted a hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm, indicated generally as H, see Fig. 17, which is preferably formed of sheet aluminum or similar material for lightness. This arm consists of two integrally connected half sections of corresponding shape folded centrally in parallel spaced relation to each other 'to form a lower handefgr ip portion 12 l'provid'e'd at its redisposed at the outer sides of the side walls of the anvil arm, and the ears 13'|3 are retained thereon by the head at one end of the stud engaging the outer side of one ear and a riveted nut 18 secured upon the other end of the stud and engaging the outer side of the other ear.

The side walls of the hand-grip portion 12 are further provided with upwardly and forwardly inclined side wall extensions 19-19, normally disposed at the outer sides of and substantially aligned with the inclined side wall portions 6'5 of the cam lever GI, and provided at their forward ends with inwardly extending front wall portions 80--88 normally disposed in parallel relation forwardly of the front wall portions ESL-61 of the cam lever, and constituting with the side wall extensions 'l919 a yoke structure enclosing the intermediate portion of the cam lever. A pair of cheek plate portions 8l-8I extend forwardly from the inner edges of the front wall portions 88-88 in parallel spaced relation at each side of the forward cam arm portion of the cam lever, with their forward ends positioned within the side wall portions I l-l4 of the housing member ID.

Each of the side wall extensions 19 is provided with a longitudinally extending outwardly embossed rib 82, extended at its forward end along the forward wall portions 89, and adapted to impart rigidity to the yoke structure formed by theside walls 19 and the forward walls 89. A channel shaped cap 83 having a top wall and side walls is engaged over the upper end portions of the side walls 19 and has its side walls spot welded to the side walls 19, to form a closure over the intermediate portion of the cam lever disposed between the side walls 19, and to rigidly maintain the spaced parallel relation of the sides of the hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm.

In each of the cheek plate portions 8| there is provided a circular inwardly embossed recess 84 having a centrally disposed hole 95, and within which is engaged a shouldered bearing bushing 86 formed of hardened steel or similar wear resisting material, the two bushings being engaged by a stud 81 passing through the cam slot 68a of the cam lever BI and supporting upon it a cam roller bearing 88 engaged for rolling movement in the cam slot. The head of the stud 81 engages the outer side of the bushing 85 at one side of the roller bearing-carrying arm and a riveted nut 89 is secured upon the other end of the stud and engages the bushing 85 at the other side of the roller bearing-carrying arm, thus maintaining a fixed spaced relation of the two bushings, so that while the s des of the roller have bearing contact with the inner ends of the bushings the latter do not bind upon the roller.

In the normal position of the plier the roller bearing 88 is at the lower end of the cam slot, as shown in Figs. 1 and '7, being pressed to this position by the upward pressure of the upper spring upon the cam lever and the downward pressure of the lower spring 58 upon the anvil arm 48 and the hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm H connected thereto, the relative position of the housing member ll] being established by the pressure of the upper spring. Ill normally pressing the cam lever 6| upwardly and the housing member downwardly, so that the nose end 69 of the cam lever abuts the upper ends of the slots 3| and 35 in the driver head portion of the housing member.

The lower hand grip of the plier is provided as above pointed out by the lower fold portion of hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm H. The upper hand-grip is provided by a handle member forming part of the push rod assembly detachably connected to the upper side of the housing member I l and shown in its detached relation in Figs. 13 and 14. This assembly comprises the handle member 98 of inverted channel shape having at the lower edges of its side walls inwardly extending flanges 9l-9l, spaced apart to align their edges with the edges of the spaced flanges I 3-43 of the housing member II), as shown in Fig. 11. Normally the flanges 9| rest upon the flanges IS. The upper side of the handle member is disposed at a slight downward and forward inclination and the forward end is diagonally formed, as at 92, to normally fit close to and in parallel relation to the upper wall portions 66 of the cam lever 61 as shown clearly in Fig. 7.

Within the handle member 90 there is disposed the upper portion of a push shoe rod 93 having its forward end rigidly secured within a hexagonal sleeve 94 which in turn is rigidly secured to the underside of the topwall of the handle member, the securing operation being preferably brought about by welding the parts together. The rod extends rearwardly within the handle portion for a substantial part of its length and then bends downwardly and forwardly in a U- bend to a forwardly extending elongated lower rod portion, which in the assembled relation extends within the staple strip supporting rail 39 of the housing member for substantially its full length. v The push shoe 95 comprises an inverted U- shaped sheet metal piece slidably engaged upon the upper edges 'of the rail 39 with its side Walls in the space between the side walls of the rail and the side walls l2 of the housing member, so that its forward edge conforms to the end of the staple strip to supported upon the rail. An upwardly projecting lug portion 96 is pressed upwardly from the center portion of the forward edge of the top wall of the push shoe, and limits its forward movement to a point where its forward edge is in line with the rearward surface of the driver 32, the lug entering the notch 25 at the lower end of the channel 23 of the staple driver guideway plate 2! and engaging the rearward surface of the driver. Thus the push shoe will not enter the staple driving space after the last staple of the strip has been driven. A stud 91 is riveted to the underside of the top wall of the push shoe and is provided with a circular passage 98 slidably and rotatably engaged by the push rod, a helical spring 99 being engaged upon the push rod between the sleeve 94 at one end and the stud 9'? at the other end. A ball end I80 is formed upon the forward end of the rod 93 to retain the push shoe thereon in the detached position, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The spring 99 is of such length and. the spacing of its coils are such that the push shoe may be pressed back to a position adjacent the U-bend of the rod, the bend of the rod and its length within the handle being sufiicient to accommodate the compressed spring. This enables a strip of staples to be inserted in the plier corresponding to the distance between the forward end of the rail and the fully retracted position of the push shoe. In practice two standard length strips are inserted to fill the magazine. At the same time the spring is such that when the staple strip is about to be exhausted and the push shoe is at 75 the forward end of the rail it is still under suf- I 9 ficientcompressionto w exert-feeding pressure-upon. the staples.

In addition to the function of the spring; 93;:

of feeding the staple strip it also exerts pressure to.= retain the detachable push-shoe; assembly in interlocked relation. upon the housing; member; To this end the side-walls. l2; of the housingmem her are provided. .rearwardly of. the flanges. I3 with upwardly projecting. hook. portions. lfli-ldl:

. adapted in the assembled" relationtoengagawithe in notches iElZ-l 62 provided in thefianges ltlll of: the handlemember. 90,. the compressedspring 99.. exerting rearward pressure upon. the; handle member was to maintain. its:interlockingposition. with the hook portions; Each of; thehooklpore tions, is provided at its forward. end. witlr anundercut ma forming a projecting hook beneath which: the forward edge of the notch: i021 engages, thi edge being beveled-at. its. inner. side. as: at I84. The upper surface of the hook;is.inclined: downwardly. and rearwardly, asat. [05, to;a vertical rearward endwall portion l6 which inthe engaged position. is disposed slightly. forwardly: of. andin. opposed relation to .the rearward. vertically disposed edge lfilrof. the notch: l.02 This formation of the hook. and notchis such thatthe rearwardpressure exerted by the springupon the handle member maintains it in interlockedzrelae tion. and direct forward pressure .uponthe handle. member will'notdisengage the interlocked relation; asthe vertical surfaces lil'lzwill contact. the vertical surfaces [06 of the hooks preventing-dis. engagement of: the beveelotv edges. d. from the undercuts 193. Also downward pressurexupon-the handlewillnottend to: disengage it, so: that; in its engaged position. it will. effectually functionas an upper handegripfor. operating the plier. Thus none of the normal pressures exertedon the handle will tendttodisengageit; However, disengagement maybe brought about bypressing at a forward and upward angle upon the rear..-. ward end of the handle member so-.as toiexertza. lifting force to bring the vertical surfaces I01 above the vertlcalsurfaces [561 of the.hook.to;apoint where they will slide forwardly upon the inclined. surfaces me so. that. continued. upward andforward pressure will disengage the handle,

from the hooks, as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7

In order to facilitate this. action the handle memberis provided at its rearward end-with a cover plate l08"disposed.at a downward and fOI'r! wardinclination, and-having a lower-end portion extended'into-the rearward open end of the sta ple magazine of the housing member. to. rovidea-closuretherefor, as showninllig. 3. Theinclined position-of this cover plate is suchthat perpendicular pressure with the thumb uponits surface will force the handle member. upwardly and forwardly todisengage the push-rod assem-. bly permitting. itto be withdrawn from the-ho-us-. ing member. The side edges of the cover plate: [58 are shouldered at m9.toprovide'areduced width lower portion, and the handle member is. provided with an internal groove I lll sadjacent its rearwardedge and terminating at eachside just short of the lower edges of the side walls. The plate is assembled by engaging the edge of the upper wide portioninthe groove Hi], the edges of the shoulders M9 at each side snapping into the lower end of the sidesof the groove by slightly spreading the-side walls of the handle member, the'inherent resiliency of'theside walls causing themto spring back and firmlyretainthe cover plate in place. i

In: one or bothaoftheside walls I 2 ofithezhou'sa ing member Hi there. are provided sight. holes HI and. H2. The hole; lli. isplaced; just for wardly'of the point. where the hand-grip. roller arm lll crossesthe. housing member and: the hole H2 is placed relatively. close tothe forward. end: of the staple magazine. In. line With'these holes the sidewall of the rail member-is distinctively colored, as forinstance by red. coloring,.so. that whenithereis no staple strip. in place, the red color isexposed through the holes. Whena full staple stripisiin. place, or one of substantial length, the: red coloring: at both holesxis covered by the.sta.-. pies and the staplesshow through the holes; As.

. the staple strip is: used up to the point where the last staple is just clear of the hole III, the red color shows through this hole indicating. that more s'taplesmay be added at this point. How ever, if the hole Hi shows red and the staples showthrough hole H2 the user of the plier. is sure that there are at least-av few staples left in the magazine. When the red colorshows through; the hole 112- the user is warned that the staple strip. is either exhausted or that only a very small number of staples remain;

The operation is as follows:

As shown-in Fig. 1 the plier is in its normal open position, the camroller 83' being at the bottomof the cam slot-58a due to the upward. pressure upon the cam lever-fil-exerted by the up! per spring and the downward pressure on the hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm H exerted by thelower spring 58 pressing downward- 1y upon the-anvil arm-48, the staple driverbeing 1 in its raised position which is limited by abutment of the-nose end 69 0f the cam lever-with.- theupper ends of the slots 31 and 35 in the driver head. As shown in Fig. 15 the work-to bestapled is placed in-the staple jaw between: the staple driver headand the anvil, the latter be-' ing swung upwardly intov gripping engagement with-the workto press it against the underside of the headby-the initial gripping actionapplied to the upper and lower handle portions. This actioncompressesthe lower spring 58'and moves the hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm H upwardly relatively to thehousing member I!) and cam lever 61, the roller moving upwardly-in thelowersteep portion. ofthe cam: slot; This movement is accomplished with no appreciable resistance as the roller moves in the steep portion of-the slot, thedirection'of this-portion of theslot being approximately in a parallel line with the arc of movement of the pivotal axis of thehand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm H: upon theanvil. arm 48 Iasthe later moves up wardly. During this movement. the hand-grip. roller bearing-carrying. arm maintains. aposition. substantially parallel at. its upper portion with the upper portion of the cam. lever, in other. words it. shifts upwardly. without appreciable pivotal movement. In .the case .of .very thickwork to =be'v stapled the upward shifting of the. hand-. grip roller bearing-carrying. arm Will be sube stantiallyless than in the case. ofthicker 'material, being. only suflicient to bring the anvil arm into. gripping relation with the work. Durin this: initial work.. ripplng op ration there has been no relative movement between the cam lever 61 andthehousing member lil,.or any movement. of. the staple driver 32.-

AS11116 handle portions are furthergrippedthe cam roller. 88. moves in the upper portion of the; cam". slot 63a, thus exertin a Qamming action upon the; cam lever; 61- to move it downwardlyv to press the staple driver downwardly to drive the staple. At the same time the hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm H swings about its pivot upon the anvil arm 48 causing the cam lever to be swung downwardly through the coaction of the cam roller with the cam slot. Thus there is a combination of a lever action as well as a cam action to impart driving movement to the cam lever. Because of the relatively long lever arm of the hand-grip roller bearing-carrying arm between its pivotal point and the cam roller bearing, and the relatively long hand-grip portion thereof, as well as the relatively great distance between the point of engagement of the roller with the cam slot and the pivotal support of the cam lever, and the relatively short distance between the cam slot and the nose of the cam lever engaged with the staple driver, a greatly amplified leverage action is obtained requiring relatively small manual effort. This action is also aided by the relatively low inclination of the upper portion of the cam slot engaged by the cam roller during the actual driving of the staple through the work, and which imparts relatively great downward force upon the cam lever with relatively little lateral force upon the cam roller. The combination of amplified forces thus obtained makes it possible to drive a very heavy gauge staple through extremely tough material with little manual effort.

As the upper hand-grip handle 9!] is a rigidly supported part of the housing member I0, downward gripping pressure thereon directly presses the driver head of the housing member against the material being stapled and holds it by manual gripping action, thus eliminating the possibility of the driver head being raised from the material as the staple is driven. Such raising of the driver head is apt to occur when there is a possibility of relative movement between the upper handle and the driving head, particularly when the staple is being driven into tough or thick material which resists its penetration.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stapling device; a housing member including a longitudinal staple strip magazine, a staple driving head at the forward end of said housing member having a staple driving passage in line with said magazine to receive a staple therefrom, and a vertically reciprocable staple driver in said head movable into said staple driving passage to drive a staple into the work; an anvil arm pivotally mounted upon the rearward end of said housing member extending longitudinally beneath it and having an anvil formation at its forward end cooperatively disposed beneath said staple driving head; a spring engaged between said housing member and said anvil arm exerting downward pressure on said anvil arm; a cam lever pivotally mounted upon the rearward end of said housing member includ ing' a cam arm having a cam slot, said cam arm being engaged at its forward end with said staple driver; a spring engaged between said housing member and said cam lever exerting upward pressure on said cam lever; a hand-grip bearingcarrying arm pivotally connected to said anvil arm at an intermediate point between its ends and including a hand-grip portion extending characterized in that said anvil arm and said cam lever are pivotally mounted on said housing member coaxially, said anvil arm includes side wall portions disposed outwardly at the respective sides of said housing member, and said cam lever includes side plate portions disposed outwardly of the respective side wall portions of said anvil arm.

5. The. invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said anvil arm and said cam lever are pivotally mounted on said housing member coaxially, said anvil arm includes side wall portions disposed outwardly at the respective sides of said housing member, said cam lever includes side plate portions disposed outwardly of the respective side wall portions of said anvil arm, and said hand-grip bearing-carrying arm includes side wall extensions disposed outwardly of the respective side plate portions of said cam lever.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said cam arm of said cam lever extends longitudinally at the upper side of said housing member, and said hand-grip bearing-carrying arm includes side wall extensions disposed at the respective sides of said housing member and a pair of cheek plates respectively carried by said side wall extensions at each side of said cam arm and supporting said bearing between them.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said cam lever consists of two half-sections secured together along a central longitudinal vertical plane, and each comprises a side plate portion pivotally mounted at its rearward end at one side of said housing member, a front wall portion disposed at the upper side of said housing member, and a cam arm portion extending forwardly from said front wall portion, and engaged at its forward end with said staple driver, the inner faces of the two arm portions being secured together along said vertical plane.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said cam lever consists of two half-sections secured together along a central longitudinal plane, and each comprises a side plate portion pivotally mounted at its rearward end at one side of said housing member, a top wall extending inwardly from said side plate portion to said vertical plane at the upper side of said housing member, a front wall extending inwardly from said side plate portion to said vertical plane at the upper side of said housing member, and a cam arm portion extending forwardly from said front wall portion and engaged at its forward end with said staple driver, the inner edges of the two top wall portions and the inner faces of the two cam arm portions being secured along said vertical plane, said top and front wall portions forming with said side plate portions a box enclosure engaged by the upper end of said last mentioned spring.

9-. Ihe invention as defined in claim1,further characterized in that said-housing member has a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed guide wall portions at its upper side adjacent and extending rearwardly from said staple driving head, said cam arm of said cam lever extends longitudinally at the upper side of said housing member centrally between said guide wall portions, and said hand-grip bearing-carrying arm includes sidewall extensions disposed at the respective sides of said housing member and a pair of cheek plates respectively carried by said side wall extensions at each side of said cam arm and supporting said bearing between them, said cheek plates extending between said guide wall portions.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that saidcam slot includes a rearward relatively steep portion in which said roller moves as said anvil arm is pressed toward said housing member and-a forward portion angularly disposed with respect tosaid rearward portion in which said bearing moves as said hand-grip bearing-carrying arm is pivotally moved to impart pivotal staple driving movement to said cam lever.

11. In a stapling device; a housing member including ears extending outwardly from its forward end, a staple driver plate engaged at its rearward side with the forward sides of said ears and having a driver guide channel in its forward side having a rear wall and side walls forwardly spaced from said ears, a staple driver engaged in said channel, a front plate engaged with the forward side of said staple driver plate and forming a front Wall for said driver guide channel, and means securing said front plate and said staple driver guideway plate to said ears.

12. In a stapling device including a housing member having a longitudinal staple strip magazine and a staple driving head at the forward end of said housing member having a staple driving passage; an -anvil arm pivotally mounted upon the rearward end of said housing member extending longitudinally beneath it and comprising a base wall and side Walls extending upwardly from said base wall, and an anvil portion integral with said base wall and extendin from it forward end rearwardly in overlying engagement with the upper edges of said side walls and disposed beneath said staple driving passage.

13. In a stapling device, a housing member having a longitudinal staple strip magazine and a staple driving head at the forward end of said housing member having a staple driving passage, said housing member including a base wall and side walls, the base wall having its forward edge rearwardly spaced from the forward edges of said side walls to provide a clearance space forwardly of said base wall, a staple rail of U-shape crosssection secured to said base wall with its forward end overlying said clearance space and with its side walls inwardly spaced from said side walls of said housing member, and a vertical plate member engaged with the forward end of said rail member to form a rearward wall for said staple driving passage having a horizontal base portion secured to the underside of said rail member within said clearance space, the side edges of said base portion being inwardly spaced from said side walls of said housing member.

14. In a stapling device, a housing member including a longitudinal staple strip magazine and a staple driving head at the forward end of said housing member having a staple driving passage, a longitudinal staple strip supporting rail in said magazine having spaced side walls, a handle member of hollow form detachably connected-to the upper side of said magazine along its rearward portion to constitute an operating hand-grip handle therefor, a push shoe rod of U-form having an upper leg-extending forwardly from its U-bend and secured at its forward end within saidhandle member and having a lower leg extending forwardly in said rail for substantially the full length of saidrail, a push shoe slidably mounted on said rod and engaged upon said rail, and a helical compression spring engaged on saidrod between its secured end within said handle member and said push shoe.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14, further characterized in that said housing member andsaidhandle member are provided with interengag-ing formations adapted to be interlockingly engaged through rearward pressure on said handle member, said spring when under compression exerting a rearward force on said rod and on said'handle member secured thereto.

16. The invention as defined in claim 14, further characterized in that said housing member is provided with an upwardly projecting hook formation having a hook portion at its forward end and an abutment portion at its rearwardend, and said handle member is provided with a notch formation having a forward edge adapted to engage beneath said hook formation and a rearward edge adapted to oppose said abutment portion, said spring exerting a rearward force on said rod and said handle member secured thereto to interlockingly engage said forward edge of said notch formation beneath said hook portion, engagement of said rearward edge with said abutment portion by direct forward pressure on said handle member limiting forward movement of said handle member to a point where said forward edge is in interlocked relation beneath said hook portion, said handle member adapted to be detached by upward pressure upon its rearward end to lift said rearward edge of said notch formation from its opposed relation to said abutment portion.

17. The invention as defined in claim 14, further characterized in that said housing member is provided with an upwardly projecting hook formation having a hook portion at its forward end and an abutment portion at its rearward end, and said handle member is provided with a notch formation having a forward edge adapted to engage beneath said hook formation and a rearward edge adapted to oppose said abutment portion, said spring exerting a rearward force on said rod and said handle member secured thereto to interlockingly engage said forward edge of said notch formation beneath said hook portion, engagement of said rearward edge with said abutment portion by direct forward pressure on said handle member limiting forward movement of said handle member to a point where said forward edge is in interlocked relation beneath said hook portion, said handle member adapted to be detached by upward pressure upon its rearward end to lift said rearward edge of said notch formation from its opposed relation to said abutment portion, said hook formation having an upwardly and forwardly inclined upper cam surface engageable by said rearward edge of said notch formation as said handle member is pressed forwardly from its lifted position.

18. The invention as defined in claim 14, further characterizedin that said housing member is provided with an upwardly projecting hook formation having a hook portion at its forward end and an abutment portion at its rearward end, and said handle member is provided with a notch formation having a forward edge adapted to engage beneath said hook formation and a rearward edge adapted to oppose said abutment portion, said spring exerting a rearward force on said rod and said handle member secured thereto to interlockingly engage said forward edge of said notch formation beneath said hook portion, engagement of said rearward edge with said abutment portion by direct forward pressure on said handle member limiting forward movement of said handle member to a point where said forward edge is in interlocked relation beneath said hook portion, said handle member adapted to be detached by upward pressure upon its rearward end to lift said rearward edge of said notch formation from its opposed relation to said abutment portion, said handle member having a rearward closure wall inclined downwardly and forwardly adapted to impart lifting movement to 16 the rearward end of said handle member as pressure is applied in an upwardly and forwardly inclined direction perpendicularly to said closure wall.

RUDOLF VOGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,935,280 Vogel Nov. 14, 1933 2,131,473 Drypolcher Sept. 27, 1938 2,136,374 Crosby Nov. 15, 1938 2,267,990 Obstfeld Dec. 30, 1941 2,281,322 Pankonin Apr. 28, 1942 2,286,155 Pankonin June 9, 1942 2,309,779 Maynard Feb. 2, 1943 2,311,412 Pankonin Feb. 16, 1943 2,341,530 Crosby Feb. 15, 1944 2,345,267 Keil Mar. 28, 1944 2,354,760 Lindstrom Aug. 1, 1944 

